It is not that long ago that I was sitting in the exact same place you are now; the in between period, the summer in between high school and college. You wait with baited breath for any scrap of information your school gives you. You can’t wait to leave home; you can’t wait to start college. Your school is perfect. It’s the perfect fit for you and you’re excited to be on your own, to become bff’s with your roommate, to be a part of a collegiate team. You look at that first day as the start of the rest of your life.

But right now you’re just in between. Anxiously waiting, so excited you can hardly stand it. It’s not hard to think back to that time and remember how excited but also how nervous I was.

As the first orientation rolls around for my school, and as all of you prepare to become apart of our Storm family this fall, I’d like to share with you some advice:

Don’t be afraid to ask for help:

The people here are some of the best. You are not a customer, you are becoming a part of the family; and if you ask for it, it will be given. From getting lost to financial aid confusion, you are so lucky to be a part of a school with people who care so much. Take advantage of that but also, become one of those people. Pass on the kindness.

Treat the dining hall ladies like queens:

Because they do in fact rule. They will be your best friend and your saving grace if you let them. Saying please and thank-you and pushing in your chair can be the difference between getting dinner after a late practice or not. I can’t count how many times my team rushed to the dining hall five minutes after closing time and yet they still let us get boxes. That being said, if you are rude to them, us seniors will be your worst enemy. Those ladies take care of us. Do not disrespect them or we will take it personally.

Pay attention:

Yes in class but also to those around you. I have learned a lot in college but only about 50 percent of that was in the classroom. You learn so much outside of the classroom if you just open your eyes.

Take advantage of every opportunity:

Take advantage of every opportunity here because they are plentiful. We have professors and faculty that are so extremely gifted and connected and are able to gift you with the most beautiful opportunities if you only let them. Do not waste away sitting in your dorm room watching Netflix. Get involved. You’re not in high school anymore and we do not care how ‘cool’ you look. You are not ‘too cool’ to get involved. You will have a much better time at LEC for it. I figured out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life by joining our Ambassadors and then getting a job working for admissions. I had no idea what that even was, and now it’s almost 3 years later and the internship it led me to is one of my favorite places to be.

Say yes:

Your friends want to go to the beach at 10 at night in the middle of winter? Say yes. Go. It may sound stupid, it may sound (and is) super cold but seeing the frozen waves of Lake Erie was one of the most unique and coolest things I have ever seen. Say yes to the adventures that are around you here, you will be offered so many and you will not regret saying yes to any of them.

School is not your education:

It’s only a part of it. College is about learning and growing in and out of the classroom. I’m not saying don’t do your homework, your grades are important, but if someone says, ‘let’s go dollar bowling!’ and you’ve got two days until a paper’s due, pull the all-nighter tomorrow and go dollar bowling. These experiences that you get in college you will never get the opportunity to take again. There will always be too much homework; you will always be too busy. But you will not get this time back. Some of my best memories are with my teammates and friends sitting around on a Wednesday night watching everyone suck epically at bowling.

Be exhausted:

You should be tired. You should want to nap a lot. But you shouldn't. You should keep yourself busy and laughing. You shouldn't sweat the small stuff but you should put in the effort. Try so hard it makes you tired. You will not regret it.

Friends:

Friends will come in all shapes and sizes all throughout your college years. Don’t limit yourself just because they’re older, younger, don’t have the same major, don’t play the same sport, etc; this isn’t high school anymore. You’re allowed to have friends with different interests; it’s what makes life interesting.

Best friends:

You might think your best friends from high school are just the bee’s knees and there is no way anyone could ever top them and I’m sure they’re great. But I met my very best friends, the ones I’m going to be friends with for the rest of my life, in college. They’re always there for me, even for my most stupid mistakes they pick me up and dust me off and they don’t let me quit. They’re my family here.

Listen to your upperclassmen:

I know you like to think you’re unique and nothing like this has ever happened before but there is no such thing as an original story. If you’re struggling, say something. Someone, somewhere, knows someone who went through the exact same thing and they will be more than willing to help and support you.

Listen to and respect your alumni:

Age 24 to age 80 they all have stories of their time here and listening to them is one of the most eye opening experiences you can have. Being involved and soaking in the great tradition LEC has is all a part of the experience. Their lives and their history is now your history too because you’re becoming a part of our family. There is a reason we say ‘Once a Storm, always a Storm,’.

And above all else…

Respect and cherish this place:

So many people have poured their hearts and souls into this place that you now get to call home. Know that you are lucky to be a part of the Storm and be proud of the great tradition you’re about to join. This place will become your home if you let it.

I have one year left at LEC. This place is my home. It has given me so much and it can do the same for you. Don’t you dare disrespect me, our staff, faculty, professors, alumni, or your fellow Storm by treating it less than what it is: extraordinary. Represent and be proud of your school. Represent and be proud of your new home. And above all else, Rage On.